ALONE

-SEVENTEEN-

Stalled in her driveway next to Rey, she felt sick. Her mum was home. Early. "Uh I got to go in, my- my mum is home earlier than I expected, sorry." She reached for the door, and Rey stopped her before she could pull.

"Hey no. I want to meet her- I mean if that's ok with you guys." He released her and awkwardly brushed through his blonde curls, musing them to a very cute angle. Mea's cheeks began to heat and become rather pink, and as Rey turned to smile he chuckle at the affect he had on her. "So... can I?"

Mea sat that a little bemused, "I guess but I need to go in first and let everyone know an- why dont i ask if you can come back in a bit for dinner?" She was rambling and they both knew it.

"Oh. Yeah for sure." He smiled and leaned over to her, and Mea thought he was going to hug her, but he kissed her cheek instead, and boy if she was blushing before, her cheeks must be as red as a tomato now. She pulled on the door and stepped out turning to wave but greeted by an open window with a smiling Rey. "By the way, I kinda like you." He added rolling up the window with a wry smile painting his lips, as he drove away, cranking the radio up to a City and Colour CD.

"I like you too." She said to empty air.

She walked into her house smelling open alcohol bottles and hearing the sound of short cries echoing from the kitchen. "Dad?" She asked just over a whisper.

"Oh Darling," a pause following a short sniff, "Darling mum's home!" Her mothers black hair that had not a single strand of grey, framed her beautiful, petit features. Grey eyes, round nose, ruby painted lips, and crystals dangling from her lobes. Black tear streaks had been whipped away in a failed attempt.

"Mum? Were you crying? Are you ok?" Mea grasped her mothers shoulder

"Oh Meata," She hated her real name. "It's been months, lets talk about my mess later. Besides I'd love to hear about what you've been up to and the cute boy who stopped by hours ago asking about you. My Meata, your growing up!" Her mother smiled still shaking from her ovbious cry fest.

Sarcastically rolling her eyes she asked, "Did he say his name?"

Her mother smiled. "There are more than one aren't there," Her red lips formed a wry smile as Mea sighed and rolled her eyes exasperatedly. "Fine, fine. He said he was Ian and wanted to know if you were bussy Saturday. Something about starting your training? What are you training for?"

Oh boy. "He isnt a friend of mine, and we're not training- Just, just working on a science project. Lets get dinner started, what were you thinking?"

Her mothers eyes bulged from her head and she shook her head vigorously. "I don't know what I was thinking!" She sobbed. Mea stood there rather confused by her mothers actions.

"How bout I just make some salad and a veggie pizza. You take a seat." she lead her mother to the table and sat her down. "And tell me what's gotten you so upset."

Her mother smile a thank you to her quizzical looking daughter. Mea started to the fridge as her mother sighed and filled her in. "You know your father and I haven't gotten along for years, and your 16 know so I think you can handle the truth. Now we've both made mistakes, and our marriage is just barely hanging on. Well while I was in Orlando- I well,"

Mea stopped chopping the peppers and turned to her mothers regretfully wistful face. "What did you do mum?" Mea asked already sensing she didn't want to know. Her mother pushed her lips together, and closed her eyes squeezing a lone tear astray down her cheek. Mea saw just how tired and aged her mum had gotten this past month. "What did you-"

Her mother snapped. "I had an affair! And I really love him. His names Gorge and we are getting eloped as soon as your damned father grows a pair and signs the papers. Your father doesn't need me, and to be perfectly frank, I don't truly love him anymore!" Her mothers chest rose and fell fast and heavily as more tears cascaded down her face.

Mea stood there dumbstruck. "how could you," she whispered to the new stranger that stood infront of her. "God, you've always been this way dammit!' Mea did not cry, but rage, pure furry filled her. "Your a Bitch and you only care about yourself!"

Her mother took to long strides towards her fuming daughter and slapped her hard across her face. "You take that back you ungrateful whore! I lived my life in order to get you where you are and this is what you do! You are terrible!"

Shocked. Mea was absolutely shocked. She masked the new pain her mother inflicted on her and straightened herself out. "If you'll excuse me, your ungrateful whore of a child has a shift to go beg for. Say hi to darling Tiffany for me, I'm sure she'll be the daughter that's grateful about your lovely news." Her mother just collapsed in the chair and covered her eyes in shame.

Mea grabbed her jaket and phone and dialed Rey.

"Hello?"

"Hi. Sorry tonight isn't going to work out."

"Oh. Well I was really looking forward to seeing you and meeting your mother."

"Yeah well my family kinda just broke so, I'm sorry."

...

"I'm coming to get you."

"No, Rey I have to go beg for my shift back, I really need the money."

"After then. I'll see you at seven."

"You'll have to sit with me while I do my homework then."

..."I really could careless. I just want to see you. If your having a shitty weekend we could always just hangout the entire time."

Mea laughed. "Sure. Sounds a lot better than the alternative. But it'll have to be later saturday."

"Not a problem."

"Alright, I'm going to head to work."

"Ok, see you at six."

"Seven!" but he'd already hung up.

'''''''''

As she stepped into the lit up cafe, she walked to the back. A few pots had been put out with daisies growing wildly. She loved it. And then was sent back out into the hassle and bustle, lucky they needed the extra hand. She tried to drone out the echoes of her mothers words, but had no avail.